Is it too early to get the Gel?

[mocha_loca]

Tomorrow I will be 40 weeks + 5 and I'm supposed to come in to the hospital to get a stretch/sweep and Prostin(?) Gel.

I am having second thoughts about getting the gel. Should I wait a bit longer?

What have your experiences been like with getting the S&S and gel? Did it bring on the contractions gently?

[becmc]

I guess it depends on your reasons for being induced. I was ten days over, and that was the only reason my ob induced and I didn't know any better at the time, I had the gel and I have to say that having my son was not a great experience, after ending up with an emergency c/s.
They use gel if your cervix is still completely closed, which really has no bearing on whether you will go into labour naturally a bit later on.
Why are they doing the stretch and sweep and the gel at the same time??? A stretch and sweep if supposed to help things along, gel is medical inducement. If I were you, and keep in mind I don't know your situation, but I would just be letting them do the stretch and sweep only and then give that a week or so to see if you go into labour naturally, which is far better than being induced, and much less likely to end in surgery.

[Astrolady]

I would definitely just be doing the stretch and sweep myself as well. That should be enough to trigger some action. Leave inducement for as long as you can.

love

[Claire]

It triggered contractions for me and thankfully I did not need a second dose. I had to spend the night being monitored as every contraction affected my babies heart rate. Like Becmc, I was 10 days over. Is there anyway you can wait longer for inducement - I'm not allowing anyone near me until I'm overdue by 2 weeks this time around, Lol!

[becmc]

I'm not allowing anyone near me until I'm overdue by 2 weeks this time around

Lol! I'm going four weeks over if need be!

[PlonkeeMumma]

The gel worked very slowly for me at 41 weeks with Oscar and brought it on very gradually so i wouldn't complain about the gel. but then again i did end up with membranes being ruptured 18 hours after it was inserted so can't actually vouch for it working all the way!

good luck

Julie x

[mocha_loca]

Thank you for all your feedback ladies.

I have decided that the stretch and sweep is the way to go and that the gel can wait a bit longer.


I think the policy at Westmead is that they dont let you go more than 10 days overdue.
But I will be putting off any induction for as long as possible.

Its not like they cant make me do it any earlier can they?

[becmc]

Its not like they cant make me do it any earlier can they?

Hell no!!!
You can refuse anything you don't want!!

Keep in mind though that if they have said that is what they want to do they will probably try and talk to you into it anyway, so stand your ground and tell them your reasons why you are refusing. Ask them if they have a good medical reason to want to induce?? And just being overdue by a few days isn't a good reason.
Good Luck!!

[paradise lost]

Mocha loca even if you get to 10 days over they can't induce you unless you let them. You can tell them you won't be induced unless they show a TRUE medical indication for it, or, if like me you can't stand confrontation when you're PG, you can "forget" to go to your appointment, or have a "family crisis" that takes a few days and means you can't come in until at least EDD+14... That's what i was planning. DD came out at EDD+11.

Bx

[Lucy]

I was induced with Charlie, at 38 weeks, and had the gel inserted at around midnight.........no contractions at all, then I started vomitting violently at around 3am........it was vile.......LOL.........the previous nights pizza decorated the hospital bathroom, yuk!

(Just my experience, obviously: the midwife who helped me and DH clean up the spew indicated that some women do get v.nauseous as a result of the gels.............)

[totalfrog]

I had the gel and I thought it was pretty unpleasant. I felt like I had really severe and constant AF pain and I felt sick. I never want to have it again!!

[August]

My first thought was why would they do both too? Good on you for deciding to go with the S&S. If you were to be induced ~~with your 100% blessing of course~~ see if Westmead has Cervidil which is an alternative to the gel for cervical ripening. I just thought I'd mention it to you dont hear many people speak about it and unlike the gel, it was designed so side effects like nausea, vomiting, uterine hyperstimulation/rupture etc etc can be avoided. It can be removed quickly and easily unlike the gel which once it's in, it is in. I'm being induced with it, so I'll be able to reccommend it personally very soon but just thought I'd mention it to you.

Sending you lots of happy spontaneous labour vibes though!!

[Claire]

Thank you for all your feedback ladies.

I have decided that the stretch and sweep is the way to go and that the gel can wait a bit longer.


I think the policy at Westmead is that they dont let you go more than 10 days overdue.
But I will be putting off any induction for as long as possible.

Its not like they cant make me do it any earlier can they?

I'm with Westmead but my Ob is low intervention - there's no way they are inducing me at 10 days over. I'm going to 42 and then I'll think about it.